Oxford City continued their encouraging start to pre-season with an impressive 2-1 victory away at Hemel Hempstead Town.

Against a side that reached the National League South Play-Offs last season, the Hoops produced another assured display and looked the stronger side throughout.

Goals from Ellis Brown and a Matty Taylor penalty, either side of half-time put City firmly in control before Josh Steele's late strike gave the scoreline a closer look than the contest deserved.

As is customary during the early stages of pre-season, Ross Jenkins fielded two separate XIs across the two halves.

A relatively quiet opening 20 minutes burst into life with chances at both ends. A Hemel trialist tested Jonny Maxted with a fierce effort before City immediately went up the other end and struck the crossbar.

Kauan Bitencourt De Oliveira's lively start down the left saw him cut inside and tee up Alfie Potter, whose 25-yard strike cannoned off the crossbar and over.

City gradually took complete control of proceedings and deservedly broke the deadlock just before the half-hour mark.

A clever quick free-kick from Dejan Tetek caught the Hemel defence cold, allowing Brown to use his blistering pace to race through, round Michael Johnson and calmly slot home to make it 1-0.

Moments later, Maxted was called into action again. Hemel's Trialist 3 curled an effort towards the top corner, but City's goalkeeper produced an excellent diving save to turn the ball behind. It proved to be his final meaningful save of the evening.

Brown continued to torment the hosts and almost turned provider for his teammates. Racing onto a perfectly weighted through ball, he delivered an inviting cross that Tyrone Marsh was unable to steer beyond Johnson.

Half-Time: Hemel Hempstead Town 0-1 Oxford City

Both sides made wholesale changes at the interval. City introduced an entirely new XI, while the Tudors (one game further into their pre-season schedule) replaced several trialists with first-team players, including former Hoops Charlie Rowan and Kyran Wiltshire.

Despite the changes, City's dominance continued and their early pressure created a flurry of chances.

Aydin Ulas saw a well-struck volley well saved by Johnson, before Josh Ashby fired narrowly wide after meeting an inviting cross from Byron Wilson.

Matty Taylor also went close after being played through on goal, but he wasn't to be denied for long...

In the 72nd minute, Wilson was brought down inside the penalty area, leaving the referee with little choice but to award a penalty.

Taylor stepped up confidently and drilled his penalty straight down the middle to double City's advantage.

In truth, City never looked second best throughout an accomplished performance that continued to build fitness, confidence and momentum ahead of the new campaign.

Hemel barely threatened until the closing stages when a wicked deflection from a set-piece wrong-footed young goalkeeper Max Treml, allowing Josh Steele to reduce the deficit.

Moreover, the hosts thought they had found an equaliser moments later, only for the assistant referee's flag to cut celebrations short.

Despite a late spell of pressure, the goal proved to be little more than a footnote in another commanding display from Ross Jenkins' side.

Overall, it was another highly encouraging performance against strong opposition.

It may only be pre-season, but valuable minutes are building, confidence is growing, and winning certainly isn't a bad habit to develop with the season opener (8th August vs Bedford Town) drawing ever closer.

We'd like to thank everyone at Hemel Hempstead Town for their hospitality throughout the evening and wish them every success for the season ahead.

Oxford City First Half: Maxted, Humphries, Francillette, Johnson, Brown, Marsh, Bitencourt De Oliveira, Pollock, Bloom, Potter, Tetek

Oxford City Second Half: Treml, Ashby, Njogu, McEachran, Wilson, Carroll, De Silva, Ulas, Daniel, Moir, Taylor